We are now entering an unpredictable time of the year where quite severe frosts are not unheard of in cold regions and yet in more milder regions plants are still growing .  Keep your eye on the weather forecast and  garden accordingly.

*Propagation Indoors

Continue to feed  pot plants regularly

Remove faded leaves and flowers from all plants

Prick out cyclamen and other seedlings sown in summer

Pot up winter and spring flowering bulbs, but keep cool and dark for 8 weeks

Pot up freesia corms for winter flowers

Pot up rooted cuttings

Pot up hardy annuals sown in late summer which are being grown for early colour inside

Plant hyacinths for early flowering if not done last month

Plant container grown trees and shrubs

Propagate deciduous shrubs by hardwood cuttings

Sow sweet peas

Continue taking cuttings of herbs such as lemon verbena, sage and thyme

Sow mustard and cress for winter salads

Sow French Beans in pots for a winter crop

Sow winter lettuce

Sow spring cabbage

Continue to maintain indoor vegetables especially tomatoes.

TIP: Seeds sown  in modular tray systems make spacing easier, save time in pricking out and produce strong sturdy plants with little or no disturbance when transplanting .  Cuttings can also be overwintered in the modular trays so saving time and space and limiting disturbance to root systems.

*Planting  Outdoors

This month you will find that there is quite a lot of cleaning up to do as well as protecting frost tender plants and bulb planting.

Clear summer bedding plants

Sweep up and stack fallen leaves to rot and provide leaf mould

Plant winter and spring flowering bulbs

Plant lilies

Continue to sow biennial seeds

Plant out wallflowers and other spring bedding plants

Prune climbing roses

Dig up and store dahlia tubers as soon as the foliage is blackened by frost

Lift and store gladioli and other tender bulbs and tubers (if not done last month)

Dig up and divide and replant overcrowded clumps of lily of the valley

Sow cauliflowers and lettuces and broad beans under cloches

Lift and store any remaining potatoes

Plant out spring cabbage sown last month

Protect outdoor tomatoes with cloches or fleece to extend their season

Dig up and store carrots and beetroot in boxes of dry sand

Cover brassicas with netting to protect from pigeons

Plant winter lettuces in a cold frame

TIP: Cloches, tunnels and fleece will protect tender plants from the sudden change in temperature.  Net tunnels will protect brassicas from birds

*In the Greenhouse

Heat may now be needed to protect tender plants so check that the heaters are working correctly

The greenhouse should be emptied and thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom and disinfected.  (Plants will still be safe to leave outside while this is being done if you watch the weather forecast).   Make sure the glass is cleaned inside and out to obtain maximum use of the winter sun

Watering should be done in the morning so that the foliage is not wet at night

Bring in tender plants to overwinter

Wash pots and trays and store for use in spring

The indications given above assume you will be using Rootrainers seed trays and or/plug plants produced in Rootrainers.  If you are using conventional seed trays, then the growth cycle is likely to be longer.  Also remember if you are using Rootrainers seed trays you will not have to do any potting up of your cuttings and you will save on compost.